Method and apparatus for grooving and flanging tug rims



Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DELL H. WOLFE, 0F PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PARKERS- BURG RIG & REEL COMPANY, OF PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORA- TION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

METHOD AND AIPABATUS FOR GROOVING AND FLANGING TUG RIMS.

Application filed July 14, 1926. Serial No. 122,448.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for grooving and flanging tug rims used in connection with oil well drilling ap aratus.

btandard tug rims are formed of relatively heavy sheet metal and are provided in their peripheries with a plurality of circumferential grooves in which the cables are adapted to run, the rims further being provided at their ends with inwardly turned substantially radial flanges. The grooves and flanges referred to usually are formed by two separate operations, the grooves initially being formed by one rolling operation, after which the rims are transferred to a second machine which is adapted to form the flanges. It will be obvious that much labor is involved and much time is lost in transfer ring the rims from one machine to another. It has been proposed to perform both operations on .the same machine, but heretofore this has been accomplished by rolling the grooves and then changing the rolls of the machine to form the flanges.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of forming the grooves and flanges referred to.

A further object is to provide a novel method of providing tug rims with grooves and flanges on a single machine without requiring the removal and replacing of rolls.

A further object is to provide a method of the above mentioned character wherein a pair of grooving rolls are adapted to receive the tug rim therebetween and to provide flanging rolls which are adapted to center the rims with respect to the grooving rolls during the rollmg o eration, after which the rims are retainer in position by the grooving rolls during the flanging operation.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for carrying out the method referred to wherein there is provided a pair of coacting grooving rolls mounted upon parallel shafts and adapted to receive a tug rim therebetween whereupon movement of the shafts toward each other and rotation of therolls is adapted to form the grooves, flanging rolls being provided for initially centering the rim with respect to the grooving rolls and for forming the flanges after the grooves have been completed.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character wherein one of the shafts is provided on opposite sides of the roll thereon with flanging rolls which are slidable upon the shaft, outward movement of the flanging rolls be ing limited whereby the space therebetween is equal to the width of a tug rim blank, so that the latter will be maintained properly centered during the grooving operation.

A further object to provide an apparatus of the character just mentioned where in the flanging rolls are adapted to be moved inwardly and clamped in operative position to permit the Hanging operatioi'i to take place.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the :l'ollowing description.

In the drawings I have shown one one bodiment of the invention. In this shows,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rolling mechanism showing a tug rim blank in posi-- tion for the initial operation,

Figure 2 is a a similar view showing the completion of the grooving operation,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the beginning of the flang ing operation, and,

Figure 4. is a view similar to Figure 2 showlng the completion of the flanging operation.-

Referring to the drawings the numerals 1.0 and 11 designate a pair of suitable shafts each having a reduced portion 12 provid ing a shoulder 13. The reduced portion of each shaft provided with a key 14. for a purpose to be described. ()i'itwardly of the reduced ortion 12, each shaft is provided with a tiireaded portion 15 upon which is mounted a nut 16, the inner face 1? of each nut constituting a shoulder adapted to coact with each shoulder 12;, for a purpose to be described. i

The lower shaft 11. provided with a grooving roll 18 having peripheral grooves .19 therein. The roll 19 is centered between the shoulders 15 and 1.7 and is maintained in position by suitable spacii'lg washers 20. It will be apparent that the roll 18 is fixed against lon itudinal movement with respect to the shaft 11. A coasting roll 21 is an (i ii ranged on the reduced portion 12 of the shaft 10, this roll being provided with peripheral ridges 22 corresponding in position to the grooves 19 of the roll 18. The roll 21 is fixed in a central position between the shoulders 13 and 17 by the key 1 1:. A pair of Hanging rolls 23 are arranged outwardly of the roll 21 and surround the reduced portion 12 of the shaft 10. The rolls 23 are adapted to slide toward and away from the roll 21, the key 11 forming a spline connection between the rolls and the shaft 10. Each Hanging roll is provided with a Hat inner face 24 and an inclined outer face 25 for a purpose to be described. It will be apparent that the outer faces of the rolls 2? are adapted to contact with the shoulders 13 and 17 to limit the outward movement of the rolls. A bolt 26 is arranged on each side of the shaft 10 and is carried, by one of the rolls 23. These bolts slidably extend through the roll 21, and the other roll 23, and the bolts are threaded at their outer ends as at 27 to be received in nuts 28, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral 22) designates a tug rim blank which is substantially cylindrical as will be apparent. The width of the rim is equal to the distance be tween the inner faces of the Hanging rolls 2 -3 whereby it will be obvious that the tug rim blank will be centered between the Hanging rolls and with respect to the rolls 18 and 21. In Figure 2 of the drawings the rim 29 is shown after the completion of the grooving operation, the rinrbeing provided with cable receiving grooves 30. The grooving operation, to be described, causes some of the portions of the metal of the tug rim to be stretched outwardly while the grooved portions are compressed inwardly. The edges of the rim retain their normal size, and accordingly the outer portions of the rim will be inclined or tapered as indicated at 31. The portions 31 are adapted to be bent inwardly by the Hanging operation as indicated at 82 in Figure 4.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The shafts 10 and 11 are supported in any suitable forms of bearings and are adapted to be moved toward each other in the usual manner to permit the rolling operations to take place as will be apparent, and any suit able means may be employed for rotating the shafts. When it is desired to form a tug rim, the shafts 10 and 11 are moved apart a sufiicient distance to permit a blank rim to be placed in position. The Hanging rolls 23 are moved outwardly to the limit of their movement, whereupon the shafts 10 and 11 are slowly brought together to the position indicated in Figure 1, the tug rim being arranged with its edges between the faces 24 of the Hanging rolls 23. The shafts 10 and 11 are then revolved and are moved toward :ach other, whereupon the grooves an will be formed. It will be apparent that the Hanging rolls act as guides to maintain the tug rim in proper position during the initial grooving operation. Upon eonn'ilelion ol' the grooving operation. the shafts are then moved apart and the Hanging rolls are moved inwardly to contact with the roll 21. whereupon the nuts 22 are applied to ihe bolts 26 to secure the Hanging rolls in position. it will be apparentlhat the roove.-; 19 ot the roll 18 are adapted to maintain the tug rim in po;-tilion while the Hanging rolls are being secured in operative position as describml. The shatls ll) and 11 are then moved toward each other to the position shown in Figure 1-1 whereupon the tapered faces of the Hanging rolls contact with the tapered portions I'll ol the tug rim formed during the grooving operatioin (ontinned n1 ')ven'1ent oi the shafts toward each other will. then cause the Hanging rolls to force the outer portions of the rim inwardly to form the finished flanges 32.

lVhile I have described bolts for securing the Hanging rolls in position, it will be apparent that any suitable fastening means may be employed, and that if desired, means may be provided for positively holding the Hanging rolls 2;) in their outer positions.

From the foregoing. it will be apparent that I provide a method of forming tug rims wherein the two operations expeditiously may be carried out on a single machine without changing the rolls, and wherein the Hanging rolls act as guide means to start the grooving operation, while one ol the grooving rolls acts as a guide during the Hanging operation. 7

It is to be understood that the form ol the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. The method of forming metal rims which consists in arranging a blank rim between a pair of grooving rolls with its edges between a pair of Hanging rolls to be guided thereby, moving the grooving rolls toward each other and revolving at least one of them to form a peripheral groove in the rim, then forming Hanges at the edge portions of the rim with said Hanging rolls.

The method of torming metal rims which consists in arranging a blank rim be tween a pair of grooving rolls with its ed ges between a pair of Hanging rolls to he guided thereby, moving the grooving rolls toward each other and revolving at least one oi them to form a peripheral groove in the rim, leaving the grooved rim in position on one of said grooving rolls to be ided thereby, and rolling flanges at the e ge portions of the rim with said fianging rolls.

3. The method of forming metal rims which consists in arranging a blank rim between a pair of grooving rolls with its ed 'es between a pair of flanging rolls to be guided thereby, moving the grooving rolls toward each other and revolving at least one of them to form a peripheral groove in the rim, leaving the rim in position on one of said grooving rolls to be guided thereby, moving the fianging rolls away from the rim and then toward each other, and then rotating the fianging rolls and moving them into contact with the rim to form flanges at the edge portions thereof.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of shafts adapted to be rotated and moved toward and away from each other, coacting grooving rolls carried by said shafts, and a pair of supplementary rolls arranged outwardly of said grooving rolls and movable toward and, away from said grooving rolls.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of parallel shafts adapted to be rotated and moved toward and away from each other, coactin grooving rolls car ried by said shafts, and a pair of supple nientary rolls slidably mounted on one of said shafts outwardl of said grooving rolls and movable towa and away from each other.

6. Apparatus of thecharacter described 1 omprising a pair of parallel shafts adapted ta be rotated and moved toward and away f1 om each other, coactin grooving rolls carrind by said shafts, and a pair of supplementary rolls slidably mounted on one of said shafts outwardl of said grooving rolls and movable towar and away from each other, said second named rolls being movable inwardly to contact with said grooving rolls, said last named shaft being provided with means for limiting the outward movement of said supplementary rolls.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of parallel shafts adapted to be rotated and moved toward and away from each other, a grooving roll carried by each of said shafts, and a pair of flanging rolls mounted upon one of said shafts outwardly of the grooving roll thereon, said flanging rolls bein slidable on said shaft toward and away from said last mentioned grooving roll and provided with tapered outer faces, said last mentioned shaft being provided with means for limiting the outward movement of said fianging rolls.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of parallel shafts adapted to be rotated and moved toward and awa from each other, a grooving roll carried by one of said shafts, the otherof said shafts being provided with a reduced portion fornr ing a shoulder, a coactiing grooving roll carried by said second named shaft centrally of the reduced portion thereof, the outer end of said last named shaft being provided with a coacting shoulder, and a fl anging roll slidable on the reduced portion of said last named shaft on each side of the grooving roll thereon, each of said flanging rolls having a tapered outer face and having its outward movement limited by one of said shoulders.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DELL H. WOLFE. 

